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Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps unite to continue rebuilding flood-affected area in Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (June 11, 2010) – More than 500 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps National Direct and VISTA members from across the country will come together this week to kickoff the annual Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon.

As part of the annual event, more than 20 homes will be built, rehabilitated or repaired in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, June 11–18. Participants will repair homes through Habitat for Humanity’s A Brush with Kindness program.

This is the second consecutive year Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity has been selected to host the event as they continue to build affordable housing in a region that was severely flooded in 2008.

“The 2010 Build-a-Thon celebrates the impact Habitat AmeriCorps members have in local communities throughout the United States, but also highlights the continued need for affordable housing in the Cedar Rapids area. This year, 2010 Build-a-Thon participants and Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity are building new homes, as well as rehabbing and repairing existing homes,” said Larry Gluth, senior vice president for U.S. and Canada Habitat for Humanity. “AmeriCorps members are on the front lines of Habitat’s work daily and devote themselves to our mission and the families being served in their communities. It is always exciting to witness what they can accomplish together in a week and we are very grateful for their commitment and service.”

Nearly 4,000 homes were damaged by fast-rising water during the devastating Iowa floods of June 2008, the worst natural and economic disaster in the state’s history. While 90 counties were declared federal disaster areas, Cedar Rapids was the most significantly affected.

Each year the AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon helps to raise awareness around affordable housing, highlight Habitat’s partnership of the Corporation for National and Community Service and Habitat for Humanity International and increase the capacity of a community to meet its local needs.

About Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Cedar Valley Habitat works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which people can live and grow into all that God intended. For more information please visit www.cvhabitat.org.

About Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.

About Habitat for Humanity National Service Programs Since partnering with the Corporation for National and Community Service in 1994, more than 5,000 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members have performed more than 5 million hours of service, engaged hundreds of thousands of volunteers and helped build more than 10,000 Habitat houses throughout the United States. For information about AmeriCorps programs, visit www.habitat.org/americorps or www.americorps.gov.

About A Brush with Kindness Habitat for Humanity’s A Brush with Kindness is a locally-operated program serving low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. The program is a holistic approach to providing affordable housing and assisting communities as well as families.

About The Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, the Corporation engages four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.